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Man is a social animal and needs human connection to live a happy and content life. Human beings are always searching for a durable connection with each other. One of the most prestigious and significant connections a person has is the one shared with a spouse or partner.
They’re the soul mates who accept you with everything you have to offer not just the good parts. Personality tests have made it easier to get to know personality types and their preferences making it easier to establish strong and enduring relationships.
Our website offers an AI-assisted personality test that’s perfect for getting to know yourself and your partner. The free test is effective in identifying the compatibility of a couple based on personality types and astrological signs as well.
What Is a Romantic Relationship?
A relationship that starts with feelings of excitement and nervousness that later develop into passionate love is called romantic. The relationship has romance and is sexual. The level of intimacy in this relationship isn’t seen in any other type of relationship.
A romantic association has been portrayed in countless films and every portrayal shows a certain aspect of it. But in reality, a successful and healthy romantic connection is built on support, trust, acceptance, and love.
5 Types of Romantic Relationships
Relationships are complicated and every person has their unique perspective about them. People use different labels to define their connection with their partner. Some of the basic types of relationships involving romance are as follows.
Dating
Dating involves doing fun activities together and making beautiful memories. During the few meetings, you get an idea of whether the relationship has any potential to last a while and turn into something special.
The dating period gives partners the chance to know each other and their personalities better. Some people see and approach dating as a fun activity where they meet different people and do fun activities with them. While other people take dating seriously. The purpose of taking time to plan dates for some people is to find a partner for life. They only use the term dating when they’re in a committed relationship and believe that it will last a long time.
Committed relationship
Couples usually use the phrase ‘in a relationship’ when they’ve made a serious commitment to the other person. It’s a phrase that’s used for long-term relationships. In such a relationship, there’s an understanding between the couple that they are going to stay committed to each other for the foreseeable future.
The couple stays by each other’s side and works on different aspects of their relationship. They’re focused on nurturing the connection between them to establish an unbreakable bond. When someone is in a committed relationship they tend to use labels such as partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend.
The next step in this type of relationship is usually marriage which gives couples the chance to make a lifetime commitment. When people get married, they make a promise to stay together for the foreseeable future and their union is considered legally binding.
Casual relationship
A casual relationship is when people are dating and are spending time together but they’re not interested in making any serious commitment. They engage in romantic and sexual activities but there are no lasting expectations attached. These relationships are short-term and aren’t considered exclusive.
A couple in a casual relationship likes and cares for each other as there’s an attraction between them but there might not be any deep and emotional connection. They don’t have any desire to form one either and they don’t seek deep and meaningful relationships and are in it just for pleasure. They prefer not to use terms such as boyfriend or girlfriend for each other.
Situationship
A situationship is a type of romantic partnership that’s not defined explicitly. The aspects of the relationship depend on the people involved. They can choose to add some qualities of a casual and some of a committed relationship to their partnership. They don’t like using any labels and defining the connection that they have.
Couples in situationship are still in the phase of getting to know each other and figuring out what type of commitment they want to have. They don’t want to create unrealistic expectations by putting a label on it because it mightn’t be suitable and go against what they want in the future.
A situationship is different from a friends-with-benefits situation as there’s some level of emotional attachment involved and the relationship isn’t merely physical. It works with people who feel that putting labels puts too much pressure on the relationship which isn’t good for its longevity.
Ethical nonmonogamy
This is a broad term used by people for open relationships. People in such a relationship don’t bind their partners by asking for loyalty. They’re ok with them having more than one romantic partner. An open relationship doesn’t put any obligation on the couple to stay loyal to just one individual. It includes open relationships, polyamory, and any other type of relationship that includes more than two people.
These relationships can be committed, casual, exclusive, open, purely sexual, or a combination of these categories. The aspects of the relationship are defined by the couple and depend on the couple and their mindset.
Development of a Romantic Relationship
Initial attraction can be intense as it’s just based on physical attraction. The challenging part comes when the initial attraction turns into something more. It has to go through numerous highs and lows.
There are no set rules or an instructional manual when it comes to coupling. Every relationship is unique as individuals involved have distinct personalities but every relationship goes through certain phases.
The stages are like stepping stones that help navigate the different seasons of the relationship. These stages are as follows.
Stage one: the merge
The first stage of a romantic partnership is the Merge, also known as the honeymoon phase or euphoric stage. In the beginning, everything’s beautiful and sensual. People will find pleasure in each other’s company and find everything about their partner positive and praiseworthy.
Often in the initial stage people don’t go into depth and don’t know the majority aspects of their partner’s personality. They get carried away in the romance based on the initial impression of the other person. In this stage, the boundaries between the couple seem to become blurred as they start their life as a couple.
During the Euphoric stage, people often become irrational as the desire to be with each other clouds their rational thinking. If there are any red flags regarding their partner, they become invisible during the initial stage.
To successfully get through the first stage the couple should enjoy it. But at the same time, they should be vigilant and aware of their emotions which are heightened at this stage. They should take time to analyze their emotions instead of getting swept away by the moment. Try to slow things down and avoid making any big and potentially life-changing decisions.
Stage two: doubt and denial
After the initial rush, the second stage comes and it’s when people start to notice differences in their personalities. The initial infatuation starts to diminish and it opens people’s eyes to the incompatible personality traits.
The second stage naturally comes with some friction as the differences in personalities start to surface. There’s also some power struggle as people try to establish a certain image and start seeing the change in their partner.
In the second stage, people experience doubt and denial along with feelings of love. To get through this stage people need to learn about conflict management. Every individual has unique personality traits and in a relationship, there needs to be acceptance.
There are struggles in every relationship but they’re not a sign that there’s no love. It’s essential to identify the difference between toxic control issues and healthy disagreement because it will help in deciding whether the relationship is worth your time and effort or not.
Stage three: disillusionment
After denial comes the phase of disillusionment. It’s known as the winter season of romance as the warmth starts to fade and reality sets in. The power struggle that started in the second phase comes to an end. The issues that were ignored or swept under the rug during the denial period become clear. This stage needs the couple to be serious and act mature. The need for being understanding is crucial at this stage.
It’s time to stop the habit of ignoring issues and facing them instead. Start communicating and clear the air so that there are no unresolved issues and built-up anger. Escaping problems leads to a buildup of negative energy and if you want to move forward then it’s important to get rid of the negativity.
The couple should be more forthcoming in showing affection as it helps in de-escalating the situation. Even if you are angry with each other, talk and try to melt the ice by making small gestures.
Stage four: decision
The fourth stage is when couples have to decide the future of the relationship. At this point, the couple has gone through a lot of tribulations. They have either given up on the relationship or come out of all the trouble with a strong bond.
It’s the time when people either leave their partner for good or start making plans for the future. In this stage, the couple should avoid making any hasty decisions because they may come to regret them later in life. Make sure that you take a close look at the relationship and evaluate all aspects whether you’re thinking of pursuing or leaving the relationship. Even if you choose to part ways, do it in a constructive manner so there are no lingering feelings of hate between you and your partner.
Stage five: love
The final stage is when the couple becomes one. Their love for each other becomes wholehearted. It’s the stage when the relationship is healthiest as the couple feels at peace and happy. There’s no power struggle between the couple as they reach true individualism and have accepted each other’s imperfections.
The relationship still needs work but the couple has now learnt the best way to complement each other’s personalities. There are disagreements even if the couple is in the fifth stage of a relationship but there’s also a higher level of respect and acceptance.
Fun Couple Activities
Spending quality time together as a couple is one of the most important things for a happy and content relationship. Certain romantic gestures are considered universal and are appreciated by all types of personality types and these include;
A couple’s massage
Couples can often get stressed because of personal and professional life and become frustrated with each other. They need to relax and unwind from time to time and the best way to do that is to go for a couple’s massage. A lot of spas offer special offers to couples that ensure that they get rid of all the tension and worry.
The good thing about a spa date is that if you don’t feel like leaving the house then you can just create a spa at home. Light some candles, put on soothing music, and give each other a massage. It’s a sensual and intimate activity that gives relaxation and pleasure to the couple and brings them closer.
Watching stars
Taking time to admire the beauty of the countless stars takes couples away from their busy lives and to just be with each other without any distractions. Looking at the stars gives the mind and the soul a rest from life’s struggles.
The best thing about stargazing is also that you don’t always need to travel for it. Stargazing can be done in the city as well. You can just go to the rooftop with some drinks and food and sit with your partner marveling at the infinite beauty and mystery of the galaxy.
To make stargazing extra special, prepare a picnic basket as well so you can have a romantic dinner as well or just stay under the sparkling sky all night.
Try new hobbies
Finding common ground is always effective in bringing a couple closer. It piques the interest of the couple and they may end up finding an activity that both love. From time to time experiencing new things like taking a drawing class or cooking a new cuisine or trying your hand at pottery or painting or gardening is refreshing. Being open to learning and trying new things keeps the interest of the couple alive, and builds new memories with each other.
Explore nature
Nature has a calming effect on people. The colors of nature relax the mind and the body so couples should take some time to explore nature. Whenever the stress levels become high and it starts affecting the relationship then you should plan a nature exploration trip.
If you and your partner don’t have any problem traveling then planning a road trip is an excellent idea. You can also go hiking and have a picnic at the top. You can bond with your partner and talk about life and even make plans. If you don’t have time or find traveling challenging then you can plan a one-day trip and visit a garden or nature museum.
Go dancing
Dance is a fun and sensual activity that works magic in reigniting the spark in a relationship. You can take your partner to a dance class or just simply go to a place that plays live music. Sway to the music and it will rid you and your partner of stress. It boosts the chemistry between the couple as it requires working together seamlessly.
Couple’s test
Nowadays there are a lot of tests that are designed to test the compatibility of people and couples. These tests are a lot of fun. You can take personality tests to know each other’s personality traits. There are many enjoyable couples’ compatibility tests available online for free. Several silly quizzes are revealing and yet funny. They’re an enjoyable way of spending some good time together.
Make a couple’s playlist
An individual’s taste in music says a lot about a person. If you want to know your partner better then you should explore the music they listen to. Make a couple’s playlist that includes favorite songs of you and your partner. Whenever you listen to the playlist you’ll be reminded of the beautiful moments spent together. You can keep updating the couple’s playlist as you make more memories together.
Final Thoughts
A romantic relationship, just like any other goal in life needs work and attention. If you stop watering it with fresh water then it will start to wither with time. To make the bond stronger it’s critical to indulge in different activities that both of you find fun.
Sam Najar, MBA
MBA from the Australian Institute of business. Over a decade working for IBM Australia and Oracle Europe and the Middle East. Worked on Artificial Intelligence technology for many years and believes that technology can help everyone better understand his/her personality and find the job they deserve.
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